Solutions In Quadratic Gravity Research Articles

Asymptotically flat black hole solutions in quadratic gravity

Black holes constitute some of the most fascinating objects in our universe. According to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, they are also deceivingly simple: Schwarzschild black holes are completely determined by their mass. Moreover, the singularity theorems by Penrose and Hawking indicate that they host a curvature singularity within their event horizon. The presence of the latter invites the question whether these dead-end points of spacetime can be made regular by considering (quantum) corrections to the classical field equations. In this light, we use the Frobenius method to investigate the phase space of asymptotically flat, static, and spherically symmetric black hole solutions in quadratic gravity. We argue that the only asymptotically flat black hole solution visible in this approach is the Schwarzschild solution.

Static cosmological solutions in quadratic gravity

We consider conditions for existence and stability of a static cosmological solution in quadratic gravity. It appears that such a solution for a Universe filled by only one type of perfect fluid is possible in a wide range of the equation of state parameter $w$ and for both positively and negatively spatially curved Universe. We show that the static solution for the negative curvature is always unstable if we require positive energy density of the matter content. On the other hand, a static solution with positive spatial curvature can be stable under certain restrictions. Stability of this solution with respect to isotropic perturbation requires that the coupling constant with the $R^2$ therm in the Lagrangian of the theory is positive, and the equations of state parameter $w$ is located in a rather narrow interval. Nevertheless, the stability condition does not require violation of the Strong Energy Condition. Taking into account anisotropic perturbations leads to further restrictions on the values of coupling constants and the parameter $w$.

Black holes and other spherical solutions in quadratic gravity with a cosmological constant

We study static spherically symmetric solutions to the vacuum field equations of quadratic gravity in the presence of a cosmological constant $\Lambda$. Motivated by the trace no-hair theorem, we assume the Ricci scalar to be constant throughout a spacetime. Furthermore, we employ the conformal-to-Kundt metric ansatz that is valid for all static spherically symmetric spacetimes and leads to a considerable simplification of the field equations. We arrive at a set of two ordinary differential equations and study its solutions using the Frobenius-like approach of (infinite) power series expansions. While the indicial equations considerably restrict the set of possible leading powers, careful analysis of higher-order terms is necessary to establish the existence of the corresponding classes of solutions. We thus obtain various non-Einstein generalizations of the Schwarzschild, (anti-)de Sitter [or (A)dS for short], Nariai, and Pleba\'{n}ski-Hacyan spacetimes. Interestingly, some classes of solutions allow for an arbitrary value of $\Lambda$, while other classes admit only discrete values of $\Lambda$. For most of these classes, we give recurrent formulas for all series coefficients. We determine which classes contain the Schwarzschild-(A)dS black hole as a special case and briefly discuss the physical interpretation of the spacetimes. In the discussion of physical properties, we naturally focus on the generalization of the Schwarzschild-(A)dS black hole, namely the Schwarzschild-Bach-(A)dS black hole, which possesses one additional Bach parameter. We also study its basic thermodynamical properties and observable effects on test particles caused by the presence of the Bach tensor. This work is a considerable extension of our letter [Phys. Rev. Lett., 121, 231104, 2018].

Plebański-Demiański solutions in quadratic gravity with conformally coupled scalar fields

We show that the Plebanski-Demianski spacetime persists as a solution of General Relativity when the theory is supplemented with both, a conformally coupled scalar theory and with quadratic curvature corrections. The quadratic terms are of two types and are given by quadratic combinations of the Riemann tensor as well as a higher curvature interaction constructed with a scalar field which is conformally coupled to quadratic terms in the curvature. The later is built in terms of a four-rank tensor $S_{\mu\nu}^{\ \ \lambda\rho}$ that depends on the Riemann tensor and the scalar field, and that transforms covariantly under local Weyl rescallings. Due to the generality of the Plebanski-Demianski family, several new hairy black hole solutions are obtained in this higher curvature model. We pay particular attention to the C-metric spacetime and the stationary Taub-NUT metric, which in the hyperbolic case can be analytically extended leading to healthy, asymptotically AdS, wormhole configurations. Finally, we present a new general model for higher derivative, conformally coupled scalars, depending on an arbitrary function and that we have dubbed Conformal K-essence. We also construct spherically symmetric hairy black holes for these general models.

GUP black hole remnants in quadratic gravity

The Hawking radiation of static, spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat solutions in quadratic gravity is here scrutinized, in the context of the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP). Near-center and near-horizon Frobenius expansions of these solutions are studied. Their Hawking thermal spectrum is investigated out of the tunnelling method and the WKB procedure. Computing the Hawking flux of these black hole solutions shows that, for small black holes and for a precise combination of the GUP parameter and the parameters that govern the gravitational interaction in quadratic gravity, the black hole luminosity can vanish. This yields absolutely stable mini black hole remnants in quadratic gravity.

Black holes and other exact spherical solutions in quadratic gravity

We study static, spherically symmetric vacuum solutions to Quadratic Gravity, extending considerably our previous Rapid Communication [Phys. Rev. D 98, 021502(R) (2018)] on this topic. Using a conformal-to-Kundt metric ansatz, we arrive at a much simpler form of the field equations in comparison with their expression in the standard spherically symmetric coordinates. We present details of the derivation of this compact form of two ordinary differential field equations for two metric functions. Next, we apply analytical methods and express their solutions as infinite power series expansions. We systematically derive all possible cases admitted by such an ansatz, arriving at six main classes of solutions, and provide recurrent formulas for all the series coefficients. These results allow us to identify the classes containing the Schwarzschild black hole as a special case. It turns out that one class contains only the Schwarzschild black hole, three classes admit the Schwarzschild solution as a special subcase, and two classes are not compatible with the Schwarzschild solution at all since they have strictly nonzero Bach tensor. In our analysis, we naturally focus on the classes containing the Schwarzschild spacetime, in particular on a new family of the Schwarzschild-Bach black holes which possesses one additional non-Schwarzschild parameter corresponding to the value of the Bach tensor invariant on the horizon. We study its geometrical and physical properties, such as basic thermodynamical quantities and tidal effects on free test particles induced by the presence of the Bach tensor. We also compare our results with previous findings in the literature obtained using the standard spherically symmetric coordinates.

On the equivalence of Jordan and Einstein frames in scale-invariant gravity

In this note we consider the issue of the classical equivalence of scale-invariant gravity in the Einstein and in the Jordan frames. We first consider the simplest example $f(R)=R^{2}$ and show explicitly that the equivalence breaks down when dealing with Ricci-flat solutions. We discuss the link with the fact that flat solutions in quadratic gravity have zero energy. We also consider the case of scale-invariant tensor-scalar gravity and general $f(R)$ theories. We argue that all scale-invariant gravity models have Ricci flat solutions in the Jordan frame that cannot be mapped into the Einstein frame. In particular, the Minkowski metric exists only in the Jordan frame. In this sense, the two frames are not equivalent.

Singularity-free cosmological solutions in quadratic gravity

We study a general field theory of a scalar field coupled to gravity through a quadratic Gauss-Bonnet term $\ensuremath{\xi}(\ensuremath{\varphi}{)R}_{\mathrm{GB}}^{2}.$ The coupling function has the form $\ensuremath{\xi}(\ensuremath{\varphi})={\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{n},$ where n is a positive integer. In the absence of the Gauss-Bonnet term, the cosmological solutions for an empty universe and a universe dominated by the energy-momentum tensor of a scalar field are always characterized by the occurrence of a true cosmological singularity. By employing analytical and numerical methods, we show that, in the presence of the quadratic Gauss-Bonnet term, for the dual case of even n, the set of solutions of the classical equations of motion in a curved FRW background includes singularity-free cosmological solutions. The singular solutions are shown to be confined in a part of the phase space of the theory allowing the non-singular solutions to fill the rest of the space. We conjecture that the same theory with a general coupling function that satisfies certain criteria may lead to non-singular cosmological solutions.

On the existence of singularity-free solutions in quadratic gravity

We study a general field theory of a scalar field coupled to gravitation through a quadratic Gauss-Bonnet term ξ( φ) R GB 2. We show that, under mild assumptions about the function ξ(φ), the classical solutions in a spatially flat FRW background include singularity-free solutions.